- President William Ruto welcomed Muhoho Kenyatta to the State House during the Gold Awards ceremony under the President’s Awards Program
- A total of 1,252 young people received the gold award after completing an intense personal development journey Ruto announced plans to double funding for the program in the 2026/27 budget to expand its scope
- TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
President William Ruto on Wednesday, January 21, welcomed his brother the former president Uhuru KenyattaMuhoho Kenyatta, at the Nairobi Palace.
Source: Facebook
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Gold Awards ceremony under the President’s Awards Program-Kenya (PA-K).
At the event, 1,252 young people who demonstrated enduring resilience, dedication and leadership were recognized by being awarded the gold medal of honour.
Why did Uhuru’s brother, Muhoho, meet Ruto Palace?
The event was chaired by President Ruto and attended by the Minister of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvuryaalong with other stakeholders from the education sector.
Muhoho attended the event in his capacity as a trustee of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) is an international initiative to promote the achievements of young people between the ages of 14 and 24, with Muhoho serving as the African regional chair of the institution.
the day before, Ruto he met with MPs from Nyandarua, including MP for Ndaragwa, George Gachagua.Gachagua.
What is the President’s Awards Program – Kenya?
The President’s Awards program recognizes people who have made a lasting contribution to their communities and beyond, while encouraging young people to achieve personal development through discipline, service to the community and active participation in changing institutions, society and the nation as a whole.
The gold award is the highest level of achievement in this program, and marks the culmination of a difficult journey of personal development.
It requires a longer commitment and higher levels compared to the Bronze and Silver levels.
To qualify, participants must complete activities in four main areas: community service, skill development, physical exercise and a challenge trip, as well as a residential project.
These features are designed to build life skills, encourage community service, promote physical health and strengthen cohesion, independence and teamwork.
In a Facebook post after the event, President Ruto praised the potential of Kenya’s youth.
“The ability of our youth to change our country is undeniable. They have unique abilities, competence, strength, determination and talents to fulfill Kenya’s great dream. Our youth are counted among the best in the world, and in the long run they will build Kenya into a first-class economy,” said Ruto.
Referring to the impact of the plan, the president announced plans to expand the plan, revealing that its budget will be doubled in the 2026/27 financial year.
He also instructed the Head of Public Service to find an alternative office for the Presidential Awards agency after their previous office was given to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking during the awarding of the certificates, Ruto said that the lack of sufficient funds previously hindered the agency’s ability to reach more young people.
“The budget has been small in the past, and that has prevented the agency’s ability to reach many young people. I am instructing the relevant minister to ensure that in the next budget, we double the allocation so that the agency can expand this important training to more schools and institutions,” he said.
Source: Facebook
How will counseling affect the promotion of teachers and civil servants?
The President also announced that civil servants and teachers who advise and guide young people under the President’s Awards Program will now be considered for promotion, thus making counseling an important criterion for career development.
He added that the staff of the program will also be increased in line with the strengthened budget, while new staff will be hired by the Ministry of Youth and Sports through the Public Service Commission.
The program is part of the Ruto government’s wider youth empowerment agenda, in line with the National Youth Service (NYS), which announced an increase in the number of young people enrolled from 10,000 to 20,000 per batch.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
